How to vote based on Catholic doctrine: A priest’s method of discernment

A priest offers guidelines on how to determine whom to vote for based on the principles found in Scripture and the social doctrine of the Church.

One of the questions that often weighs on a Catholicʼs conscience when elections approach is how to decide which candidate to vote for.

Father Duberley Salazar has developed the “Discern” method, which is presented through short videos available on the “Clínica del Alma” (“Clinic for the Soul”) Instagram account. Salazar explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the videos serve “as a practical tool to guide and form oneʼs conscience in making responsible political decisions.”

“We live in complex times: times of moral confusion, social polarization, and political decisions that profoundly shape the destiny of individuals, families, and peoples. In this context, a decisive question arises: How should a Christian discern when faced with concrete political choices?” the Colombian priest states in the introductory video.

He also points out that Christianity possesses “an inescapable social and political dimension”; consequently, the method he has developed is grounded in that “which seeks the common good and which the Gospel illuminates, purifies, and elevates” and seeks to enlighten those believers who “experience a disconnect between the faith they profess and the decisions they make in public life.”

“They believe, but they don’t always discern. They vote, but not always from a formed conscience. From this dissonance is born a weak, disembodied faith incapable of transforming history,” he notes.

The videos have been developed based on the “principles of sacred Scripture, the social doctrine of the Church, moral theology, philosophy, political science, bioethics, and psychology, uniting faith and reason, spirituality and social responsibility.”

The program “is neither an ideological manual nor a partisan guide. It is an ethical and spiritual compass, designed to inform the conscience without imposing decisions,” the priest explains.

For example, the first video, titled “God First,” invites viewers to pray and place their vote in God’s hands before making a decision, because “it’s not about choosing what suits me best but rather what glorifies God and promotes the common good.”

The second video, titled “Get Informed,” urges viewers not to vote “blindly” but rather to inform themselves beforehand regarding the situation in their country or locality, each candidate, their platforms, and “their respect for the rule of law, the constitution, and democratic norms.”

“Faith does not exclude reason; on the contrary, it enlightens and purifies it,” the video notes.

Thus, the method proceeds, reflecting on service, consistency with Christian values, listening to that voice within, responsibility, the need to be exemplary in virtue, inspiration that edifies, and resilience.

What to do when there is no ideal candidate

In a document shared with ACI Prensa, Salazar explains that if, after evaluating the candidates, it is discovered that “none fully meet” the outlined criteria, one may “apply the moral principle of the ‘lesser evil’ or the ‘choosing the possible good.’”

“This principle teaches that, in situations where no option is ideal, it is licit to choose the least harmful one or the one that offers greater consistency with Christian values, thereby avoiding contribution to a greater evil or to the deterioration of society,” he states.

The priest points out that “the intention is not to seek human perfection, which no one possesses, but rather to act with responsibility, prudence, and faithful obedience to the Gospel, insofar as is possible.”

He also noted that St. Thomas Aquinas referred to this moral principle when he noted: “Do not do evil so that good may come of it; always do whatever good you can, and avoid whatever evil is possible.”

“This means that when voting, it is not merely a matter of choosing what comes closest to the good, but also of avoiding options that could gravely harm the common good or human dignity,” Salazar explains.

However, if one determines that no candidate respects fundamental values, “the option of casting a blank ballot exists in some electoral systems as a way to express your dissatisfaction.”

The priest points out that “from a moral and Christian standpoint, this option may be legitimate when, in truth, none of the candidates represents the common good or consistency with fundamental values.”

But he noted that it is also important “to discern whether this gesture responsibly expresses your will or if, on the contrary, it could indirectly favor an option contrary to those values.”

“For this reason, the principle of the ‘lesser evil’ invites you not only to choose the least harmful option but also to evaluate the real consequences of your vote within the specific context of your country and of society as a whole,” Salazar notes.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.